Tag: poor

  • Blessed are you Poor

    Blessed are you Poor

    “Blessed are you poor,
    For yours is the kingdom of God.
    Blessed are you who hunger now,
    For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now,
    For you shall laugh.

    “But woe to you who are rich,
    For you have received your consolation.
    Woe to you who are full,
    For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now,
    For you shall mourn and weep.
    Excerpt from Luke 6

    Today’s writing is in place of our regular M-F continuing series: A Temporary Throne, which will continue tomorrow, 5 August, 2014, God willing. – RH

    WE are rich! And the world would entice us to buy even more.

    However we fail to realize how some followers of Islam do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. We fail to see how some followers of Judaism do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. WE turn to the focus of evil used by the world to view the poor and the helpless, yet Christ Jesus, our returning Lord and Savior cautions us to LOVE our enemy and pray for those who persecute us.

    In fact and deed most of us have no concept of the sacrifice of Christians and others among the poor of the world. Some dare not speak boldly: even against forces of evil at work in every country, every religion and every place where the rich buy and sell weapons – even the weapon of food.

    Take as just one example one neglected place of people not deemed worthy of news: Niger (no, not Nigeria – Niger.)

    The average lifespan of a person in Niger is approximately fifty-five years. Niger has the highest rate of child marriage in the world. Every 3 in 4 girls marry before their 18th birthday. (source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201407220901.html )

    The average income per person for one year (except for the rich) is approximately $360 (source: World Bank, 2011). Niger’s main exports are livestock & uranium (by some rich) and major religions are Islam and indigenous beliefs. (Source: BBC)

    Imagine trying to survive on less than $1 per day! IF you will not be fed and educated and live as one who will feed you, you will be persecuted, driven out or murdered by sword or starvation. This is the new war of the radical evangelizing jihadists.

    Here is the Strong’s definition of the word Jesus uses for “POOR” – Reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms; destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor; lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches; helpless, powerless to accomplish an end: poor, needy

    What are we to do?

    I do NOT have an answer. Only God has an answer for how each of us ought to help personally and help through our church.

    Yet let us open our eyes to the severe suffering throughout the numerous battlegrounds – Niger, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, West Africa and so many more – for the lives and souls of so many who have not come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and God!

    This day brings but rumors of war. The poor of the world will suffer much, even until the end! Even so, come Lord Jesus.

     

  • The Beatitudes and the Multitudes – Part 2

    The Beatitudes and the Multitudes – Part 2

    Matthew 5

    King James Version (KJV)

    • Blessed are the poor in spirit.

    NOT the poor in money – not the poor in anything other than a downcast spirit and soul of hopelessness. God has not looked on you with blessing. You live the life of curse and lack of blessing. God’s wrath must have looked on your life as worthy of nothing better than the dust of the earth.

    • For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

    How can this be? Cursed. Living as souls paying the price of every sin. How can one so downcast in heart be blessed with the Kingdom of Heaven?

    • Blessed are they that mourn.

    We all mourn. We mourn the loss of a father, a mother, a husband, a wife, a child, a dear friend, a relative. We mourn their loss by death, by war, by famine, by disease, by abduction, by slavery, by imprisonment, by addictions, by drugs, by alcohol, by divorce, by hatred, by broken relationship, by loss of all hope of making all that is death and evil into desperation of grief. We all wail in the mourning of our hearts, broken again and again until the final grieving as death. I need freed from this!

    • For they shall be comforted.

    What comfort short of death has any man? What peace may a suffering servant know?

    • Blessed are the meek.

    The self-made, driven man is the one blessed by his own hand. Do we not aggressively pursue the best God has for our life now? God helps those who help themselves, right? Those who want to expand their kingdom of blessings on earth cannot be gentle, submissive, mild and gentle.  The world will take from me every blessing, if I am meek.

    • For they will inherit the earth.

    How can I end up with nothing, yet inherit the earth?

    • Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.

    No, not blessed are the hungry – not blessed are thirsty. Am I not hungry every day? Do some hunger for food in their extreme poverty and even thirst for unpolluted water to drink? Yes, these do suffer more than me and more than you. But here in this place Jesus asks the filled and the hungry both to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Hunger to do the right thing before God at all times and in all ways. Desire to feed your flesh with the food and water of God.

    • For they shall be filled.

    How can I be filled with the bread and wine of righteousness? How can the Word of Jesus fill the hunger of my soul?

    • Blessed are the merciful.

    Who would show me mercy? Do the rich and the powerful not enslave us without mercy? Will the conquering nation show mercy on the slaves of their might? Will the poor criminal not pay every penny owed to the rich man, while the influential will bribe the judge?

    • For they shall obtain mercy.

    Will God please show me some mercy, and the unrighteous justice?

    • Blessed are the pure in heart.

    I stand before God with a hypocritical heart and a soiled soul.

    • For they shall see God.

    How will I be cleansed of my impure spirit of the flesh?

    • Blessed are the peacemakers.

    We live in a place where our conquerors have forced peace. Shall I make peace with the unrighteous? We have peace only when we give in to the rule of our leaders.

    • For they shall be called the children of God.

    Does God not call on His children to fight for what is right? Can we be instruments of peace in a place of war? Is it the place of children to fight for the Father?

    • Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

    Have the righteous and unrighteous both not been persecuted? Why would I do what is right knowing that I will be persecuted?

    • For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    And if I do not do what is right? Will heaven have my soul?

    • Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

    Is the man also a Prophet? Why does he say that others will speak evil of me for his sake?

    • Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

    I don’t want to be persecuted for my own sake, let alone for the sake of this Jesus. The Prophets of God were opposed by evil men of their captors and of their own religion.

    (Just some possible thoughts of some in the multitude, hearing Jesus teach the Beatitudes.)

    To be continued…

  • Africa: Faith in a House of Cards

    Africa: Faith in a House of Cards

    Americans, Europeans, many South Americans, South Africans, Australians, upper class Indians and upper class Asians of countries like China and Japan are very blessed.

    Even though we may be poor compared to most of our own countrymen, most ‘relatively rich’ Christians (like us) do NOT see and hear the great need of many brothers and sisters in Christ, let alone the great needs of Christian missions to others in countries and states hostile to Christ Jesus.

    How often do you hear of Christian Missions in places like Cameroon and Central African Republic?

    Central African RepublicThe MAP of our world changes continually, nowhere more radically than Africa. The reasons do not change: greed, power and control by religion (especially Islam, but also others).

    Here is a better current perspective to ‘world history’ than a schooling from ancient textbooks of the 20th century. Visit any continent (courtesy BBC country profiles) like this one for Africa. Facts & History will reveal an ongoing battle of Islamist radicals and others to displace and defeat Christians.

    As you may know from Sudan and other troubled places in Africa, greed and radical religious beliefs know NO boundaries. Patient authoritarian Islamist leaders aggravate and stir the hatreds of hot spots from their comfortable places in Saudi Arabia, Iran and many other countries.

    Persecuted Christians on all continents and the Christian missions which bring the Gospel of Christ Jesus to the unsaved have been on my heart for many months now.  Many fine missionary organizations support these through our many small contributions though our local churches.

    Check with your own church and you can often find ways to contribute even more to these MANY needs.  Just one example of our church is Operation Christmas Child.

    I know you know John 3:16; do you know 1 John 3:16? (& 17 & 18)?

    For truth we do not hear and in deed we have no charity (agapē).

    The Middle East typically receives the most press. As a reminder, many of the troubled countries are part of N. Africa.

    On occasion we will hear of troubles of Somalia, Kenya, or other African peoples in struggles against the tyranny of evil, greed, military force,  rebels, anarchists, Islamists,  forces of  ‘nature’, famine, war… etc. etc… while mention of the daily struggles and needs of the poor remain rare.

    MISSIONARIES NARROWLY ESCAPE COUP IN AFRICA

    Posted by  on Friday, May 10, 2013

    Here is the full story you never hear from just five months ago. Please pray for and support the missions of these faithful Christians.

    ghana

    One might be shocked to learn that some areas of Africa have become mighty fortresses for Christ, but great need persists for these faithful Christian brothers and sisters, especially for many abandoned children who would have no hope were it not for the love of these faithful Christians.

    Ghana, a country once known as a place where Portuguese and British ruled and exported slaves into other parts of the world has now become a place where the freedom of Christianity is sent into other parts of Africa.

    Never-the-less, Americans, Europeans and others do not realize the extent of poverty in nations such as Ghana, where the average annual income is only $1,410, compared to $48,620 in the US or $36,010 USD in Hong Kong or $80,440 in Qutar, a place for Arabian princes and World Capitalists to shelter their considerable wealth.

    2013-09-26 Saida's children

    Refugees from war-torn African nations and abandoned aids babies of immoral powerful men depend on the support, love and charity of Christian community and even homes of many compassionate Christians in places like Ghana.

    They depend on the financial support of Christian missions and a few individual Christian churches and missions.

    Please consider support and prayer for one of these welcomed into the love of Christ Jesus.

    These are the faces of orphans living in a Christian home in Ghana and provided for by a poor worker in a nearby home for other orphans.

    These are the faces of Christian love.  These little ones are also the faces of Christian need for a Christian sister with barely enough to keep food on their table.

    I will close with a personal story of Christian love from this beloved sister in Christ from just last SUNDAY, 6 OCTOBER, 2013 (a day our church feasts every month after first Sunday communion.)

    Ghana-Tracywe met Tracy last Sunday when she was at church Alone!

    She didn’t want to go back home because she was denied from eating food for the last four days as punishment for the not carrying her auntie’s baby!

    she preferred sleeping at church than going back home, so we went with her and talked to her auntie about it!

    she is now living a happy and hopeful life! Thank You for your prayers!!

    Who else will intervene for Jesus when others turn away the little children?

    If you can help in any small way, in addition to prayer, please visit the link behind  “Child Passion Children’s Home, with Patti Crabtree Brown and 22 others. we follow the biblical directive to rescue, love and care for orphans. We believe that when we do, we are following Christ’s commandment and are acting as His hands and feet.”

    Jesus said: And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” – Matthew 10:42